Belated thanks to Herostratus for uploading this high-resolution image showing many buildings and another of those old hexagonal water tanks. It’s to the right of the centre of the photo with the Peak Tram track immediately above it.
As the resolution is so good I’ve linked the “places” that can be seen in the distance, but unfortunately it doesn’t help with the date the photo was taken. Best I can say is that it was taken in or after 1903 (both Chair Coolie Quarters buildings are present; Quarndon complete) and before 1911 (Findlay Road construction was started in 1911, but isn’t seen).
If it was not the "No.4 Tank", I wonder if it was the one referred to here;
“The iron water tank, of 10,000 gallons capacity, which was removed from the Peak on the construction of the service reservoir there in 1897, was erected above Plantation Road” (Para.36(xxiii) of 1899 PWD Report at GG 168/1900, dd 14 Apr 1900).
This old photo was taken from a seldom used viewpoint and consequently gives a seldom seen view of early houses on the north slopes of Mount Gough. I believe it was taken from close to the east end of Pollock's Path.
Here's the view from there in 2015 for comparison.
The ridge lines of Mount Gough (left), High West (center) and Victoria Peak (right) in both photos show strong similarities so I'm fairly confident that the original photographer wasn't far from here.
The three homes nearest the camera in the old photo are;
Comments
Another Hexagonal Water Tank
Belated thanks to Herostratus for uploading this high-resolution image showing many buildings and another of those old hexagonal water tanks. It’s to the right of the centre of the photo with the Peak Tram track immediately above it.
Looking at the 1912 (https://gwulo.com/media/13074) and 1924 (https://gwulo.com/media/13017) Peak maps, it could be the “No.4 Tank” on RBL 133 that is shown on both.
As the resolution is so good I’ve linked the “places” that can be seen in the distance, but unfortunately it doesn’t help with the date the photo was taken. Best I can say is that it was taken in or after 1903 (both Chair Coolie Quarters buildings are present; Quarndon complete) and before 1911 (Findlay Road construction was started in 1911, but isn’t seen).
Water Tank
It looks like an octagonal tank to me. Which would match the two I know at HKU and Barker Road.
Ian
Octagonal It Is.
Octagonal it is. Thanks for the correction.
If it was not the "No.4 Tank", I wonder if it was the one referred to here;
“The iron water tank, of 10,000 gallons capacity, which was removed from the Peak on the construction of the service reservoir there in 1897, was erected above Plantation Road” (Para.36(xxiii) of 1899 PWD Report at GG 168/1900, dd 14 Apr 1900).
Water Tank
Apologies. I now realize that the presence of the water tank in this photo has already been noted by Herostratus at https://gwulo.com/node/36439 and https://gwulo.com/node/39012.
Link to original photo
Stereo card from US Library of Congress titled:
12053-Some of the Beautiful Terrace Homes, Hong Kong, China
This is looking along Barker Road back toward Victoria Peak, right, and High West, center
Houses on Plantation Road
This old photo was taken from a seldom used viewpoint and consequently gives a seldom seen view of early houses on the north slopes of Mount Gough. I believe it was taken from close to the east end of Pollock's Path.
Here's the view from there in 2015 for comparison.
The ridge lines of Mount Gough (left), High West (center) and Victoria Peak (right) in both photos show strong similarities so I'm fairly confident that the original photographer wasn't far from here.
The three homes nearest the camera in the old photo are;
Upper - The Belvedere.
Lower Left - Fung Shui.
Lower Right - Abergeldie.
All three are on Plantation Road.